Author |
Message |
Crackhead
| Posted on Tuesday, April 07, 2009 - 07:06 am: |
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hum, i wounder if the frame redesign was to allow the v rod motor to be put in the baggers? The v rod chassis is to stretched out and low (street rod is better) for a comfortable touring model. a 1125T would be a nice edition on the Buell side with full wind coverage. Sort of like the Kawasaki Concours 14. I would keep the Blast the same but do major upgrades, mostly coming from the XB line. DS Blast would be nice and moving the ULY X more towards the DS side would help test the waters for a full MX line. I think the DS Blast would sell well if there was a hardbag option. |
U4euh
| Posted on Tuesday, April 07, 2009 - 07:42 am: |
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Met a guy just the other day that says all the 2010 models will start the phase out of the air cooled and start bringing in the water cooled design. Didn't have or wouldn't give any more information on the subject. He was here from Michigan to see his son graduate from the Basic. |
Ratbuell
| Posted on Tuesday, April 07, 2009 - 08:10 am: |
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The frame design was to allow the trike (TriGlide). The frame is now back-halved (for those dragracers out there) - the entire rear subassembly unbolts, not just the swingarm, to make room for trike-ing. FLHT has always been my bang-for-the-buck favorite. FLTR? AWESOME on the open road. Frame mounted fairing (for SVH) takes all the wind turbulence and funnels it into the chassis, where it simply disappears. Batwings (like the FLHX Street Glide you rode) will take the wind turbulence and turn it into headshake and handlebar wobble. Trouble is, FLT numbers have NEVER been what FLH numbers are. There's a reason HD's been around for 106 years now. Sells less? Nix it. Huge outcry? Bring it back, priced higher as a 'special edition'. Personally? I'd LOVE to see an 1125S2T I rode my S2 the other day, now that the roads are salt-free. DAMN, that bike is fun. Comfy, fast, stable...and 14 years old! An 1125-based S2T reincarnation? My wife would divorce me for sure. |
Hughlysses
| Posted on Tuesday, April 07, 2009 - 09:12 am: |
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On a related note, Harley just announced upper management changes: http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2009/04/07/harle y-davidson-gets-new-leadership/ |
86129squids
| Posted on Tuesday, April 07, 2009 - 09:38 am: |
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+1, what Ratbuell said. The FLHT "Batwing" has aerodynamics like strapping on a piece of plywood to the front, and all that stuff is carried on the triple tree. FLTR's all steer without the junk on the front, MUCH better handling bikes as a result. |
Methed
| Posted on Tuesday, April 07, 2009 - 09:38 am: |
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FWIW, I had it explained to me that there would/could/will never be a Revolution engine in a FLH frame due to the power-to-weight ratio. A dealer friend informed me of this after I inquired about the RodGlide kits that I'd seen (as pictured previously). He explained that there has been a lot (A LOT!) of feedback from dealers indicating that the market is asking for a V-Rod based touring bike; each year HD responses have gone from "no way, never" to "we've considered it" to "we have to know there would be a market for such a product." Who knows... |
Court
| Posted on Tuesday, April 07, 2009 - 10:07 am: |
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That Press Release is BIG news and it looks good to me! That looks like a true shake-up. |
Hughlysses
| Posted on Tuesday, April 07, 2009 - 10:13 am: |
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Court- any idea if/how this will affect Buell? |
Court
| Posted on Tuesday, April 07, 2009 - 10:39 am: |
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Yes |
Methed
| Posted on Tuesday, April 07, 2009 - 10:41 am: |
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Court: Yes AND?! |
Davegess
| Posted on Tuesday, April 07, 2009 - 10:45 am: |
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I gotta think that new thinking represented by an outsider at the top would be good for Buell as might be able to more clearly see the path forward that Buell represents. Than he may know so little about motorcycles that he can't see it at all. Have to wait and see. |
Dbird29
| Posted on Tuesday, April 07, 2009 - 10:45 am: |
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Remind Court to tell you sometime.
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Court
| Posted on Tuesday, April 07, 2009 - 10:50 am: |
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I think bringing someone in from the outside could be good. In addition, I saw what Matt Levetich could (and WOULD . . . a rarer attribute at Harley-Davidson) do when he was at HDI in the United Kingdom. We had a big Buell problem once. I proposed a ridiculous solution that broke every rule. Matt bought in, supported it and we pulled it off. I keep the letter he wrote me about it over the desk. He's a smart guy. |
Nevrenuf
| Posted on Tuesday, April 07, 2009 - 11:56 am: |
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as far as getting the bagger without the radio, what's the idea of running down the super slab if you can't listen to metallica or your favorite tunes whatever they might be. |
Strokizator
| Posted on Tuesday, April 07, 2009 - 01:06 pm: |
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If you like listening to tunes then this is the bike for you. It has a built in cassette deck. Wow, talk about cutting edge technology! Time to dig through your old collection of Steve Miller tapes. BTW, I have an FLTR with Hogtunes amp. Sounds real good.
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Xbmacon
| Posted on Tuesday, April 07, 2009 - 01:10 pm: |
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Never ridden a 12, but why nix the 9 altogether? I love the bike and it has plenty of speed and getty-up for the street. With the new liquid cooled out, is it as easy as they (9 & 12) are too similar, so go with the bigger one? |
Cityxslicker
| Posted on Tuesday, April 07, 2009 - 04:20 pm: |
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That Buell ST 2/3 is just such a perfect bike, if I ever see one come available... I might have to pick it up. Problem is that these riders know exactly what the bike is,,, and they aint giving them up anytime soon. |
Spectrum
| Posted on Tuesday, April 07, 2009 - 06:12 pm: |
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Well since the 9 is gone, how about a short stroke version of the Rotax motor? |
Nevrenuf
| Posted on Tuesday, April 07, 2009 - 06:22 pm: |
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my buddy has the hogtunes on his ultra and loves it. maybe one day |
Birdy
| Posted on Tuesday, April 07, 2009 - 06:31 pm: |
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A short stroke Helicon? I pulled this off the Buell site. Bore 4.055 in. x Stroke 2.658 in. That's for the 1125 how much shorter could it really get and have any grunt left? |